JP2015092296A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus that can reliably cool a cooling target part with the cooling air from a fan without changing the installation location of the fan.SOLUTION: There is provided an image forming apparatus including an apparatus body 2 that accommodates a fan 40 blowing the cooling air to a cooling target part 18, which generates heat in association with image forming operation, and a unit that is detachably attached to the apparatus body 2, where the apparatus body 2 includes a first intake port 46 that communicates with the fan 40 and is exposed to the outside when the unit is detached from the apparatus body 2, and a second intake port that communicates with the fan 40 through a duct 47 and is exposed to the outside when the unit is attached to the apparatus body 2; an air channel is formed above the cooling target part 18; a paper ejection tray 4 is provided to cover the upper part of the air channel; the paper ejection tray 4 has, at one end thereof, a bent plate 44 provided between the fan 40 and unit; and the first intake port 46 is provided in the bent plate 44 in the proximity of the fan 40.

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and in particular, an image forming apparatus including an apparatus main body that houses a fan that sends cooling air to a cooled portion, and a unit that is detachably attached to the apparatus main body. About.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus such as a printer, a copier, a facsimile machine, or a multifunction machine is provided with an apparatus main body that accommodates an image forming unit. Since there is a cooled portion (for example, a container or a fixing device) that generates heat in association with an image forming operation, the apparatus main body contains a fan for cooling the cooled portion. . This fan is usually installed in the vicinity of an air inlet provided in a cover or the like of the apparatus main body so that outside air can be taken in at a low temperature.

  Incidentally, various units (hereinafter simply referred to as “units”) such as a unit (finisher) for stocking paper discharged from the apparatus main body and a unit for image processing are attached to and detached from the apparatus main body. There is a case where it can be mounted (see Patent Document 1). In such a case, if the mounting position of the unit on the apparatus main body and the formation position of the air inlet overlap, the air inlet is covered by the unit mounted on the apparatus main body, making it difficult to take outside air into the fan. Conventionally, this problem has been dealt with by providing an air inlet to the unit and taking outside air into the fan via the unit, or changing the installation location of the fan.

JP 11-119495 A

  However, when outside air is taken into the fan via the unit as described above, the temperature of the taken outside air is increased while passing through the unit. There is a possibility that the cooling part cannot be cooled sufficiently. Further, if the installation location of the fan is changed, the fan is separated from the cooled part, and in this case, the cooled part may not be sufficiently cooled.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of reliably cooling a portion to be cooled by cooling air from a fan without changing the installation location of the fan in consideration of the above circumstances. .

  An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes an apparatus main body that houses a fan that sends cooling air to a cooled portion that generates heat in association with an image forming operation, and a unit that is detachably attached to the apparatus main body. The apparatus main body communicates with the fan, the first intake port exposed to the outside in a state where the unit is detached from the apparatus main body, and the fan communicated with the fan via a duct. A second air inlet that is exposed to the outside in a state of being attached to the apparatus main body and a state in which the unit is removed from the apparatus main body, and an air passage is formed above the cooled portion, A paper discharge tray is provided so as to cover the upper side, and a bent plate is provided between the fan and the unit at one end of the paper discharge tray, and the fan includes the cooled portion and the air path. With the unit The first intake port is provided in the bent plate in proximity to the fan, and the duct is installed between the fan and the unit, and the unit mounting surface from the vicinity of the fan. Is extended to a different surface and connected to the second intake port, an end portion of the duct is provided with an intake opening portion, and the intake opening portion is provided in a cover that covers an outer periphery of the apparatus main body. It is characterized by communicating with the second air inlet.

  By adopting such a configuration, when the unit is removed from the apparatus main body, a sufficient amount of outside air can be taken into the fan via the first air inlet, and the cooling efficiency of the cooled part by the fan is increased. It becomes possible. Further, when the unit is mounted on the apparatus main body, even if the first intake port is covered with the unit, a certain amount of outside air can be taken into the fan via the second intake port and the duct. Become. Therefore, it is possible to increase the cooling efficiency of the portion to be cooled by the fan as compared with the case where a configuration in which outside air is taken into the fan via the unit is adopted. In this way, the cooled portion can be reliably cooled by the cooling air from the fan both when the unit is removed and when the unit is installed, without changing the installation location of the fan. In addition, when the unit is attached to the apparatus main body, the second intake port can be reliably prevented from being covered by the unit. Therefore, a certain amount of outside air can be reliably taken into the fan via the second air inlet and the duct, and the cooling effect of the cooled part by the fan can be enhanced.

  The bent plate may cover one side of the intake side surface of the fan, and the duct may cover the other side of the intake side surface of the fan.

  The first air inlet may be provided along a blowing direction of the fan.

  An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes an apparatus main body that houses a fan that sends cooling air to a cooled portion that generates heat in association with an image forming operation, and a unit that is detachably attached to the apparatus main body. The apparatus main body communicates with the fan, the first intake port exposed to the outside in a state where the unit is detached from the apparatus main body, and the fan communicated with the fan via a duct. A second air inlet that is exposed to the outside in a state of being attached to the device main body and a state in which the unit is detached from the device main body, and the duct is fixed to the device main body, and the fixing portion A movable part that is openable and closable with respect to the apparatus body, and when the unit is detached from the apparatus main body, the movable part is opened with respect to the fixed part, and the unit is attached to the apparatus main body. The movable portion is pressed toward the fixed portion by the unit, the movable portion is closed with respect to the fixed portion, and a passage from the second intake port to the fan is formed. It is connected to the entire intake side.

  By adopting such a configuration, when the unit is removed from the apparatus main body, a sufficient amount of outside air can be taken into the fan via the first air inlet, and the cooling efficiency of the cooled part by the fan is increased. It becomes possible. Further, when the unit is mounted on the apparatus main body, even if the first intake port is covered with the unit, a certain amount of outside air can be taken into the fan via the second intake port and the duct. Become. Therefore, it is possible to increase the cooling efficiency of the portion to be cooled by the fan as compared with the case where a configuration in which outside air is taken into the fan via the unit is adopted. In this way, the cooled portion can be reliably cooled by the cooling air from the fan both when the unit is removed and when the unit is installed, without changing the installation location of the fan. Further, when the unit is removed from the apparatus main body, outside air can be easily taken into the fan via the first air inlet, and when the unit is mounted on the apparatus main body, the fan is connected via the second air inlet and the duct. It is possible to easily take in outside air. Therefore, it is possible to enhance the cooling effect of the cooled part by the fan both when the unit is mounted and when it is removed.

  The unit is provided with a frame plate having a boss projecting toward the duct side, a cover is provided between the frame plate and the duct, and the cover has a position corresponding to the boss. When the unit is attached to the apparatus main body, the movable part may be pressed toward the fixed part by the boss that has entered the apparatus main body through the insertion hole.

  The cooled portion may be a container that stores toner.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to reliably cool the portion to be cooled by the cooling air from the fan without changing the installation location of the fan.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an outline of a configuration of an apparatus main body in a color printer according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the upper part of the apparatus main body in the color printer according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an upper portion of the apparatus main body in a state where a first paper discharge tray, a left cover, and a front cover are removed in the color printer according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an upper portion of the apparatus main body with the left cover and the front cover removed in the color printer according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In the color printer which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention, it is a perspective view which shows a container cooling fan and a duct. 1 is a perspective view showing an upper portion of an apparatus main body in a color printer according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In the color printer according to the first embodiment of the present invention, it is a front view showing a state in which the relay conveyance device and the finisher are mounted on the apparatus main body. In the color printer according to the first embodiment of the present invention, it is a cross-sectional view showing the periphery of a first air inlet when the relay transport device and the finisher are mounted on the apparatus main body. It is a perspective view which shows a container cooling fan and a duct in the color printer which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a front view which shows a finisher in the color printer which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the periphery of a duct when a finisher is attached to an apparatus main body in a color printer according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, a case where the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is applied to a color printer 1 will be described. For convenience of explanation, the front side in FIG. 1 is defined as the front side.

<First Embodiment>
First, the inside of the apparatus main body 2 of the color printer 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an outline of the configuration of the apparatus main body in the color printer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The apparatus main body 2 has a box shape, and a paper feed cassette 3 storing paper (not shown) is provided at the lower part of the apparatus main body 2, and a first paper discharge tray is provided at the upper part of the apparatus main body 2. 4 is provided. A second paper discharge tray 5 is provided above the first paper discharge tray 4.

  Inside the apparatus main body 2, an intermediate transfer belt 6 as an image carrier is installed between a plurality of rollers, and an exposure unit 7 is disposed below the intermediate transfer belt 6, along the lower part of the intermediate transfer belt 6. Four image forming units 8 are provided for each toner color (for example, four colors of magenta, cyan, yellow, and black).

  Each image forming unit 8 is rotatably provided with a photosensitive drum 9, and around the photosensitive drum 9, a charger 10, a developing unit 11, a primary transfer unit 12, and a cleaning device 13 are provided. The static eliminator 14 is arranged in the order of the primary transfer process.

  A pair of stirring rollers 15 is provided below the developing device 11, a magnetic roller 16 is provided obliquely above the stirring roller 15, and a developing roller 17 is provided obliquely above the magnetic roller 16. Four containers 18 are provided above the developing unit 11. Each container 18 contains toner of a color corresponding to each image forming unit 8.

  A conveyance path 20 is provided on one side (right side in the drawing) of the apparatus main body 2. A paper feed unit 21 is provided at the upstream end of the conveyance path 20, and a secondary transfer unit 22 is provided at one end (right end in the drawing) of the intermediate transfer belt 6 at a middle portion of the conveyance path 20, downstream of the conveyance path 20. The fixing device 23 is provided in the section.

  The conveyance path 20 branches up and down at a portion downstream of the fixing device 23. A first paper discharge section 25 is provided on the upper side of the first paper discharge tray 4 (upper right side in the drawing) at the downstream end of the first conveyance path 24 that is a lower branch path. . A second paper discharge section 27 is provided on the upper side of the second paper discharge tray 5 (upper right side in the drawing) at the downstream end of the second conveyance path 26 that is the upper branch path.

  The second paper discharge unit 27 passes through a portion upstream of the secondary transfer unit 22 in the transport path 20 and a reverse path 28 for duplex printing provided on one side (right side in the drawing) of the transport path 20. Connected.

  Next, an image forming operation of the color printer 1 will be described. When the color printer 1 is turned on, various parameters are initialized, and initial settings such as temperature setting of the fixing device 23 are executed. When image data is input from a computer or the like connected to the color printer 1 and an instruction to start printing is given, an image forming operation is executed as follows.

  First, after the surface of the photosensitive drum 9 is charged by the charger 10, the photosensitive drum 9 is exposed according to the image data by the laser light (see arrow P) from the exposure device 7, and the photosensitive member is exposed. An electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the drum 9. Next, the electrostatic latent image is developed into a toner image of a corresponding color by the developing device 11 with the toner supplied from the container 18. This toner image is primarily transferred to the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 6 in the primary transfer portion 12. Each image forming unit 8 sequentially repeats the above operation, whereby a full-color toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 6. Note that the toner and charge remaining on the photosensitive drum 9 are removed by the cleaning device 13 and the static eliminator 14.

  On the other hand, the paper taken out from the paper feed cassette 3 or the hand tray (not shown) by the paper feed unit 21 is conveyed to the secondary transfer unit 22 in synchronism with the above-described image forming operation, and is subjected to secondary transfer. In the section 22, the full color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 6 is secondarily transferred to the paper. The sheet on which the toner image is secondarily transferred is conveyed downstream in the conveyance path 20 and enters the fixing device 23, and the toner image is fixed on the sheet by the fixing device 23. The sheet on which the toner image is fixed enters either the first conveyance path 24 or the second conveyance path 26. The paper that has entered the first transport path 24 is discharged onto the first paper discharge tray 4 by the first paper discharge unit 25. The paper that has entered the second transport path 26 is discharged onto the second paper discharge tray 5 by the second paper discharge unit 27 or is transported to the reverse path 28 for duplex printing.

  Next, the container 18 as a part to be cooled and its surroundings will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the upper part of the apparatus main body in the color printer according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the upper portion of the apparatus main body with the first paper discharge tray, the left cover, and the front cover removed in the color printer according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the upper part of the apparatus main body with the left cover and the front cover removed in the color printer according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a container cooling fan and a duct in the color printer according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an upper portion of the apparatus main body in the color printer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  2 and 3, the front side of the drawing is the front side as in FIG. 4, 5 and 7, the right side of the drawing is the front side. In FIG. 6, the left side of the drawing is the front side.

  As shown in FIG. 2, each container 18 is stored in a container storage unit 31 provided in the upper part of the apparatus main body 2. The container storage unit 31 has four mounting parts 33 that are partitioned by a plurality of side plates 32 side by side, and the container 18 is detachably mounted on each mounting part 33.

  The fixing device 23 is provided on the right side of the rightmost container 18. The fixing device 23 is partitioned by a container storage unit 31 and a partition plate 34. The fixing device 23 includes a heating roller 36, a pressure roller 37 provided on the right side of the heating roller 36, and an IH coil unit 38 provided on the left side of the heating roller 36. That is, the fixing device 23 is an induction heating type (IH type) fixing device.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a container cooling fan 40 is installed on the left side of the leftmost container 18. The container cooling fan 40 is installed in such a direction that air can be blown from the left to the right. As shown in FIG. 4, the container cooling fans 40 are respectively installed at the front and rear portions of the left end portion of the apparatus main body 2.

  As shown in FIG. 2, an air passage 41 is formed in the left-right direction above each container 18, and covers the container cooling fan 40 and the upper side of the air passage 41 so as to cover the first discharge tray 4 described above. Is provided. The first paper discharge tray 4 includes a mounting portion 42 that extends substantially in the left-right direction, and a protrusion 43 that protrudes from the right end portion of the mounting portion 42 toward the first paper discharge portion 25 (in the present embodiment, the upper side). And.

  The placement unit 42 is located on the lower left side of the first paper discharge unit 25, and the paper discharged from the first paper discharge unit 25 is placed on the placement unit 42. As shown in FIG. 3 and the like, the left end portion of the mounting portion 42 is provided with a bent plate 44 that is inclined leftward downward, and the lower portion of the bent plate 44 forms a part of the exterior cover. It abuts on the upper end of the cover 45. As shown in FIG. 5, the bent plate 44 is disposed on the outer side (left side in the present embodiment) from the container cooling fan 40 and is located on the upper left side of the container cooling fan 40. A plurality of louver-shaped first air inlets 46 communicating with the container cooling fan 40 are formed in the bent plate 44 in the horizontal direction. Each first air inlet 46 is close to the container cooling fan 40. Each of the first air inlets 46 has, for example, a horizontally long slit shape, and is provided in three vertical and horizontal rows. Each first inlet 46 is exposed to the outside.

  A duct 47 is installed on the lower left side of the container cooling fan 40 and below the bent plate 44. As shown in FIG. 6, the duct 47 has a rectangular tube shape that is long in the front-rear direction. The front part and the rear part of the duct 47 cover the lower left side of each container cooling fan 40, and the internal space of the duct 47 and the lower part of the container cooling fan 40 communicate with each other.

  The duct 47 extends from the vicinity of the container cooling fan 40 to the front surface of the apparatus main body 2, and an intake opening 49 is provided at the front end of the duct 47. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the intake opening 49 is provided at the rear of the support plate 50 provided at the left front corner of the apparatus main body 2 and extending in the vertical direction. In the support plate 50, a plurality of (for example, six) louvered vent holes 51 are formed in the horizontal direction at positions corresponding to the intake openings 49 of the duct 47. The vent 51 has, for example, a horizontally long slit shape, and is arranged in parallel above and below at a predetermined interval.

  As shown in FIG. 7, each air vent 51 communicates with the outside through a second air inlet 53 provided at the left end portion of the front cover 52 that forms a part of the exterior cover. The second air inlet 53 is exposed to the outside and communicates with each container cooling fan 40 via a duct 47.

  Next, the relay conveyance device 55 and the finisher 56 as a unit will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 8 is a front view showing a state in which the relay conveyance device and the finisher are attached to the apparatus main body in the color printer according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing the periphery of the first air inlet when the relay conveyance device and the finisher are attached to the device main body in the color printer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the relay conveyance device 55 is detachably attached to the apparatus main body 2 on the upper side of the first paper discharge tray 4. A relay conveyance path (not shown) is formed in the relay conveyance device 55 in the left-right direction, and the sheet discharged from the first paper discharge unit 25 is conveyed from the right side to the left side along the relay conveyance path. It can be done.

  The finisher 56 is detachably attached to the left side surface of the apparatus main body 2. The finisher 56 includes a finisher main body 58 connected to the left side of the relay conveyance device 55, and a tray 59 attached to the left side of the finisher main body 58. As shown in FIG. 9, the finisher main body 58 is provided at a position that sandwiches each container cooling fan 40 between the container 18 and the air passage 41, and a position that sandwiches the duct 47 between each container cooling fan 40. Is provided. The finisher body 58 houses a mechanism for performing post-processing such as punching and stapling on the paper. Then, after the post-processing described above is performed in the finisher main body 58 on the paper conveyed to the finisher main body 58 by the relay conveyance device 55, the paper can be discharged to the tray 59.

  In the configuration as described above, when the container cooling fan 40 is operated along with the image forming operation in a state where the relay transfer device 55 and the finisher 56 are detached from the apparatus main body 2, the first intake port 46 exposed to the outside is used. Then, outside air is drawn into the container cooling fan 40, and outside air is drawn into the container cooling fan 40 through the second intake port 53 and the duct 47 exposed to the outside. Along with this, as indicated by white arrows in FIG. 2, the cooling air from the container cooling fan 40 flows through the air passage 41 from the left to the right. The cooling air cools each container 18 that generates heat during the image forming operation.

  As described above, since the outside air can be directly taken into the container cooling fan 40 through the first air inlet 46 provided in the vicinity of the container cooling fan 40, for example, via the second air inlet 53 and the duct 47. Therefore, the loss of the amount of outside air taken into the container cooling fan 40 can be reduced as compared with the case where outside air is taken into the container cooling fan 40 only indirectly. As a result, it has been confirmed by experiments that the cooling effect of the container 18 can be greatly increased.

  On the other hand, when the relay transfer device 55 and the finisher 56 are attached to the apparatus main body 2, the left side of the first intake port 46 is covered with the finisher 56 and the first intake port as shown in FIG. The upper side of 46 is covered by the relay conveyance device 55. Therefore, it is difficult to draw outside air into the container cooling fan 40 via the first air inlet 46, and the ambient temperature of the first air inlet 46 is likely to rise. For this reason, the outside air sucked from the first air inlet 46 is heated and weakened as compared with the case where the relay transfer device 55 and the finisher 56 are not attached to the apparatus main body 2.

  However, the container cooling fan 40 is also connected to the second air inlet 53 via the duct 47, and this second air inlet 53 is external even when the relay transfer device 55 and the finisher 56 are attached to the device main body 2. (See FIG. 8). Therefore, it is possible to take a certain amount of outside air into the container cooling fan 40 via the second air inlet 53 and the duct 47, for example, taking it into the container cooling fan 40 as compared with the case where only the first air inlet 46 is provided. The amount of outside air that can be increased can be increased, and the container 18 can be sufficiently cooled.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the container 18 is cooled by the cooling air from the container cooling fan 40 both when the relay transfer device 55 and the finisher 56 are detached and mounted without changing the installation location of the container cooling fan 40. Can be reliably cooled.

  In the present embodiment, the first air inlet 46 is provided in the first paper discharge tray 4 that covers the upper side of the container cooling fan 40, and the duct 47 is provided so as to cover the lower side of the container cooling fan 40. 40. By adopting such a configuration, a constant amount of outside air can be taken into the container cooling fan 40 from both the first intake port 46 and the second intake port 53 using a simple configuration, thereby saving space. However, the cooling effect of the container 18 by the container cooling fan 40 can be enhanced.

<Second Embodiment>
Next, the color printer 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a container cooling fan and a duct in a color printer according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a front view showing a finisher in the color printer according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the periphery of the duct when the finisher is mounted on the apparatus main body in the color printer according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, portions that are different in configuration from those in the first embodiment are mainly described, and descriptions of portions that are similar in configuration to those in the first embodiment are omitted as appropriate.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the duct 47 includes a fixed portion 61 having a U-shape opened on the left side and a movable portion 62 provided on the left side of the fixed portion 61 and having a U-shape opened on the right side. And is composed of.

  The fixing unit 61 is fixed to the apparatus main body 2. The fixed portion 61 is located below the container cooling fan 40 and is formed integrally with the case 60 of the container cooling fan 40. Stopper pieces 70 are provided on both sides of the case 60 of the container cooling fan 40 so as to project toward the movable portion 62 side (left side in the present embodiment).

  A hinge portion 63 is provided along the length direction of the duct 47 between the lower left end portion of the fixed portion 61 and the lower right end portion of the movable portion 62, and the movable portion 62 is fixed to the fixed portion 61 via the hinge portion 63. The movable portion 62 can be opened and closed with respect to the fixed portion 61 by being rotatably supported. The movable portion 62 has a protruding portion 64 protruding upward at a position corresponding to the case 60 of each container cooling fan 40.

  As shown in FIG. 11, a frame plate 65 is provided in the vertical direction at the right end of the finisher main body 58 of the finisher 56. A hook 66 protrudes toward the right near the center of the frame plate 65 in the vertical direction, and an engagement hole 68 is formed in the left cover 45 of the apparatus main body 2 at a position corresponding to the hook 66. (See FIG. 12).

  As shown in FIG. 11, a boss 67 protrudes rightward from the frame plate 65 above the hook 66, and the left cover 45 of the apparatus body 2 has a position corresponding to the boss 67. An insertion hole 69 is formed (see FIG. 12).

  In the configuration as described above, when the finisher 56 is not attached to the apparatus main body 2, the movable portion 62 of the duct 47 is opened to the fixed portion 61 as shown in FIG. Clearances are formed between the portion 61 and the movable portion 62 and between the case 60 and the protrusion 64 of the container cooling fan 40. The first air inlet 46 provided in the first paper discharge tray 4 and each container cooling fan 40 communicate with each other through this gap. Hereinafter, the posture of the duct 47 in this case is referred to as a “first posture”.

  In this way, the duct 47 takes the first posture, so that outside air can be drawn into the container cooling fan 40 from the first intake port 46 provided close to the container cooling fan 40 without loss.

  From this state, as shown in FIG. 12, when the hook 66 of the finisher 56 is engaged with the engagement hole 68 of the left cover 45 and the finisher 56 is attached to the apparatus main body 2, the boss 67 of the finisher 56 is moved to the left cover 45. The boss 67 presses the movable part 62 of the duct 47 toward the fixed part 61 side. By this pressing, the movable portion 62 of the duct 47 rotates to the fixed portion 61 side (right side in the present embodiment) with the hinge portion 63 as a fulcrum, and the movable portion 62 is closed with respect to the fixed portion 61. The upper right end abuts on the upper left end of the fixed portion 61. Further, the protruding portion 64 of the movable portion 62 contacts the case 60 of the container cooling fan 40, and the stopper piece 70 engages with the outer surface of the protruding portion 64. As a result, communication between the first air inlet 46 and the container cooling fan 40 is blocked, and a passage from the second air inlet 53 to each container cooling fan 40 is formed. Hereinafter, the posture of the duct 47 is referred to as a “second posture”.

  Since the duct 47 takes the second posture as described above, the second air inlet 53 is connected to the entire container cooling fan 40 via the duct 47, and a sufficient amount of outside air is connected via the duct 47. Can be drawn into the container cooling fan 40.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the cold air is drawn in by using the force of the container cooling fan 40 both when the finisher 56 is attached and when it is removed. Therefore, the cooling effect of the container 18 by the container cooling fan 40 can be further enhanced as compared with the case of the first embodiment.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the duct 47 is switched from the first posture to the second posture by rotating the movable portion 62 with respect to the fixed portion 61 has been described. However, in another different embodiment, for example, the movable portion You may comprise so that the duct 47 may switch from a 1st attitude | position to a 2nd attitude | position by sliding 62 with respect to the fixing | fixed part 61. FIG.

  In the first and second embodiments, the case where the relay conveyance device 55 and the finisher 56 are used as the units has been described. However, in other different embodiments, for example, other units such as a paper feed unit and a duplex printing unit are used. May be. That is, the present invention can be applied to various option units.

  In the first and second embodiments, the case where the configuration of the present invention is applied to the color printer 1 has been described. However, in other different embodiments, other image formation such as a monochrome printer, a copying machine, a facsimile machine, and a multifunction machine is performed. It is also possible to apply the configuration of the present invention to an apparatus.

1 Color printer (image forming device)
2 Device body 4 First discharge tray 18 Container (cooled part)
40 Container cooling fan 41 Air path 44 Bending plate 45 Left cover 46 First air inlet 47 Duct 49 Air inlet opening 52 Front cover 53 Second air inlet 55 Relay transfer device (unit)
56 Finisher (unit)
61 Fixed portion 62 Movable portion 65 Frame plate 67 Boss 69 Insertion hole

Claims (6)

An image forming apparatus comprising: an apparatus main body that houses a fan that sends cooling air to a cooled part that generates heat in accordance with an image forming operation; and a unit that is detachably attached to the apparatus main body.
The apparatus main body is
A first air inlet that communicates with the fan and is exposed to the outside in a state where the unit is removed from the apparatus main body;
A second air inlet that communicates with the fan via a duct and is exposed to the outside in a state in which the unit is mounted on the apparatus main body and a state in which the unit is removed from the apparatus main body,
An air passage is formed above the cooled portion, and a paper discharge tray is provided so as to cover the upper side of the air passage. One end of the paper discharge tray is bent between the fan and the unit. A board is provided,
The fan is installed between the unit to be cooled and the air path and the unit,
The first air inlet is provided in the bent plate in proximity to the fan,
The duct is installed between the fan and the unit, extends from the vicinity of the fan to a surface different from the mounting surface of the unit, and is connected to the second intake port.
An air intake opening is provided at an end of the duct, and the air intake opening communicates with the second air intake provided in a cover that covers the outer periphery of the apparatus main body. apparatus. The bent plate covers one side of the intake side surface of the fan;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the duct covers the other side of the intake side surface of the fan.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first air inlet is provided along a blowing direction of the fan. An image forming apparatus comprising: an apparatus main body that houses a fan that sends cooling air to a cooled part that generates heat in accordance with an image forming operation; and a unit that is detachably attached to the apparatus main body.
The apparatus main body is
A first air inlet that communicates with the fan and is exposed to the outside in a state where the unit is removed from the apparatus main body;
A second air inlet that communicates with the fan via a duct and is exposed to the outside in a state in which the unit is mounted on the apparatus main body and a state in which the unit is removed from the apparatus main body,
The duct is
A fixed portion fixed to the apparatus body, and a movable portion that can be opened and closed with respect to the fixed portion
In a state where the unit is removed from the apparatus main body, the movable part is opened with respect to the fixed part,
When the unit is mounted on the apparatus main body, the unit presses the movable part toward the fixed part, and the movable part is closed with respect to the fixed part so that a path from the second air inlet to the fan is formed. An image forming apparatus, wherein the movable portion is formed and connected to the entire intake side of the fan. The unit is provided with a frame plate having a boss projecting toward the duct side, a cover is provided between the frame plate and the duct, and the cover has a position corresponding to the boss. Is provided with an insertion hole,
5. The image according to claim 4, wherein when the unit is attached to the apparatus main body, the movable part is pressed toward the fixed part by the boss that has entered the apparatus main body through the insertion hole. Forming equipment.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cooled portion is a container that stores toner.